Post by wvhsparent on Feb 14, 2008 8:33:51 GMT -6
Parents swamp Dist. 204 Web site checking boundary proposal
By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 2/14/2008 12:08 AM
More than 600 parents and community members already have chimed in on Indian Prairie Unit District 204's new boundary proposals -- and that's likely only the beginning.
The district unveiled the new boundaries on its Web site Tuesday morning and the response was virtually immediate.
School board President Mark Metzger said he's been busy reading the feedback as it comes in. He said a majority of the comments follow a familiar pattern.
"Basically, the people whose children aren't being moved think it's a brilliant plan," he said Wednesday. "Those who are looking at being moved hate it."
When asked if a majority of respondents have been civil, Metzger hedged.
"Some yes, some no, but that's pretty normal around here, too," he said.
He said there's no single issue that seems to be sparking the most reaction.
"A lot of people are telling us why this plan wouldn't be good for their particular neighborhood," he said.
The district redrew its proposed attendance boundaries after abandoning its initial site for the new Metea Valley High School and choosing instead to build it along Eola Road on the northern end of the district.
The decision came just two years after the district went through a controversial process to redraw boundaries to serve the original site near 75th Street and Commons Drive. The district covers portions of Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield and Bolingbrook.
Under the new high school boundary proposal, elementary students from Brookdale, Brooks, most of Cowlishaw, some of Gombert, Longwood, Owen, Watts and Young elementary schools eventually will attend Metea Valley.
Several parents within the proposed Metea boundaries on the northern end say they've kept an eye on the process but that it has generated little discussion.
"We've watched the process and put it out there for discussion," said Brooks Elementary School PTA Vice President Donna Scovill. "But it hasn't been much of a big deal."
Susan Rasmus, president of Young Elementary PTA, said the proposed boundary changes won't have much impact on her area.
"I think it's safe to say most of us are just happy to get to go to Metea," she said.
That isn't the case in other portions of the district, however. Fry and White Eagle elementary students, for example, would leave the Neuqua Valley High School boundary area for the Waubonsie Valley High School attendance area along the district's western edge.
Web site traffic from those areas indicate some unhappiness with the changes.
But some parents willing to speak about the proposals also had positive things to say.
Fry parent Radhika Bhandari has two children at the elementary school and chose her home three years ago based on its proximity to both Fry and Neuqua Valley.
She never envisioned her children would end up being bused to Waubonsie Valley, but she said she believes it's a sacrifice her family will make for the betterment of the district.
"I've visited both high schools and I do believe that we are comparing apples to apples when we talk about them. The Neuqua apple is just closer to my home," she said Wednesday. "I'm sensitive to the fact that other children have traveled farther than us for many years, so maybe it's just our turn."
Farther east, an Owen family has no concerns that they would have the longest bus ride -- about 35 minutes -- to Metea Valley.
Angie Gaul said she and her children are "excited" about being able to open a new high school.
Her eighth-grader would be a sophomore going into Metea in 2009. She also has children in third and sixth grades.
"A new school means new opportunities and experiences and that's important," she said. "My two older kids have talked about friends they would move on with and friends they would leave behind, but they'll figure that out in time."
Community members have until noon Saturday to comment on the proposal through the district's Web site and e-mail. A special board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora.
Metzger expected the board to vote at that meeting but said there is time to postpone action if members need more time to dissect the proposal.
By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 2/14/2008 12:08 AM
More than 600 parents and community members already have chimed in on Indian Prairie Unit District 204's new boundary proposals -- and that's likely only the beginning.
The district unveiled the new boundaries on its Web site Tuesday morning and the response was virtually immediate.
School board President Mark Metzger said he's been busy reading the feedback as it comes in. He said a majority of the comments follow a familiar pattern.
"Basically, the people whose children aren't being moved think it's a brilliant plan," he said Wednesday. "Those who are looking at being moved hate it."
When asked if a majority of respondents have been civil, Metzger hedged.
"Some yes, some no, but that's pretty normal around here, too," he said.
He said there's no single issue that seems to be sparking the most reaction.
"A lot of people are telling us why this plan wouldn't be good for their particular neighborhood," he said.
The district redrew its proposed attendance boundaries after abandoning its initial site for the new Metea Valley High School and choosing instead to build it along Eola Road on the northern end of the district.
The decision came just two years after the district went through a controversial process to redraw boundaries to serve the original site near 75th Street and Commons Drive. The district covers portions of Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield and Bolingbrook.
Under the new high school boundary proposal, elementary students from Brookdale, Brooks, most of Cowlishaw, some of Gombert, Longwood, Owen, Watts and Young elementary schools eventually will attend Metea Valley.
Several parents within the proposed Metea boundaries on the northern end say they've kept an eye on the process but that it has generated little discussion.
"We've watched the process and put it out there for discussion," said Brooks Elementary School PTA Vice President Donna Scovill. "But it hasn't been much of a big deal."
Susan Rasmus, president of Young Elementary PTA, said the proposed boundary changes won't have much impact on her area.
"I think it's safe to say most of us are just happy to get to go to Metea," she said.
That isn't the case in other portions of the district, however. Fry and White Eagle elementary students, for example, would leave the Neuqua Valley High School boundary area for the Waubonsie Valley High School attendance area along the district's western edge.
Web site traffic from those areas indicate some unhappiness with the changes.
But some parents willing to speak about the proposals also had positive things to say.
Fry parent Radhika Bhandari has two children at the elementary school and chose her home three years ago based on its proximity to both Fry and Neuqua Valley.
She never envisioned her children would end up being bused to Waubonsie Valley, but she said she believes it's a sacrifice her family will make for the betterment of the district.
"I've visited both high schools and I do believe that we are comparing apples to apples when we talk about them. The Neuqua apple is just closer to my home," she said Wednesday. "I'm sensitive to the fact that other children have traveled farther than us for many years, so maybe it's just our turn."
Farther east, an Owen family has no concerns that they would have the longest bus ride -- about 35 minutes -- to Metea Valley.
Angie Gaul said she and her children are "excited" about being able to open a new high school.
Her eighth-grader would be a sophomore going into Metea in 2009. She also has children in third and sixth grades.
"A new school means new opportunities and experiences and that's important," she said. "My two older kids have talked about friends they would move on with and friends they would leave behind, but they'll figure that out in time."
Community members have until noon Saturday to comment on the proposal through the district's Web site and e-mail. A special board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora.
Metzger expected the board to vote at that meeting but said there is time to postpone action if members need more time to dissect the proposal.
